Washington, D.C. – American Energy Action (AWA) released a new television ad in Oklahoma today to educate the public on Harold Hamm’s effort to dramatically increase taxes on wind, which would cost jobs and would hurt the economy, hardworking families, public schools and rural communities. Billionaire oil magnate Harold Hamm is leading his coalition to protect his own tax credits while misleading the public on the many benefits of wind energy in Oklahoma.

AWA’s six-figure television, digital and radio ad will begin airing immediately and will be seen across Oklahoma, a major wind resource state, through the month of May.

Sam Enfield and Jeff Clark, two members of AWA’s bipartisan Board of Directors, issued a joint statement regarding the launch of AWA’s new ad, “Harold Hamm should be ashamed of his misleading campaign that is designed to distract public attention from his huge tax breaks while costing jobs, robbing public schools, rural communities and raising energy costs on hardworking Oklahoma families. Harold Hamm and his political and celebrity friends are simply trying to protect their own numerous and expensive tax incentives and tear down the wind industry in the process.”

“The truth is, wind power in Oklahoma is creating jobs and lowering energy prices and has already created a better economy. Wind has added more jobs for this generation and the next. Increasing windpower is a bipartisan issue that has universal appeal among Oklahoma voters, which is why former Governor Frank Keating signed it into law. Now, with a straight face, Governor Keating has thrown his lot in with Harold Hamm at the expense of Oklahoma’s farmers, ranchers and public schools,” they continued.

AWA released apublic opinion poll in February which revealed that wind energy is highly popular (80% favorable) among engaged Oklahomans, and they are more likely to support a legislator who supports wind energy (68%). The second research study illustrated that Oklahomans support for wind energy translates to strong opposition to a wind tax Governor Fallin once proposed. Oklahomans are also less likely to support their legislator if they choose to support this wind tax (66%). A majority of likely voters (53%) stated that they would be willing to call the governor, their legislator or both regarding this important issue.